Big Second Half Gives #6 Cabrini Win Over Hampden-Sydney

RADNOR, PA – Hampden-Sydney went into halftime tied 5-5 with #6 Cabrini, but a big second half gave the Cavaliers a 14-8 win.

The Tigers threw the first punch in the contest as consecutive scores from Mike Funk (Chantilly, VA/Middleburg) and an Abbot Wallenborn (Crozet, VA/Western Albemarle) goal gave H-SC a 3-0 lead five minutes in. Cabrini got things going just five seconds later off an Evan Downey goal, and two straight goals from Tyler Johnson, one with 14 seconds left, tied the game at 3-3 at the end of the first quarter. The two teams would trade two goals apiece in the second quarter, and Sam Rapoport (Suffolk, VA/Nansemond-Suffolk) found the back of the net with 15 ticks on the clock to keep it a tie ballgame at 5-5 going in to intermission.

Halftime served the Cavaliers well. Offenses stalled for the first nine minutes of the half, but Cabrini got things rolling with four goals in the last 5:57 of the third to go up 9-5. Rapoport scored another late-quarter goal, putting one in the net at the two-second mark, to keep the Tigers within three, 9-6, going into the final frame.

The fourth quarter proved to be much the same as the third as Cabrini pocketed five consecutive goals to open the quarter before Hampden-Sydney scored the last two to make it a 14-8 game.

Thomas Armstrong (Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Latin) paced the Tigers with two goals, two assists, and four ground balls while Funk and Rapoport each added on two scores. Jake Koferl (Huntersville, NC/Lake Norman) tallied a game-high seven ground balls. David Noftsinger (Richmond, VA/Collegiate) tacked on a season-high 13 saves.

Tyler Johnston posted eight points on four goals and four assists, and Mike Leyden had four goals and one assist. Damian Sobieski found the back of the net three times while Corey Elmer tacked on two goals and one helper. Anthony DiNenno was 14 of 21 face-offs.

Cabrini held a 48-31 advantage in ground balls, a 12-22 advantage in turnovers, won 18 of 26 face-offs, and outshot H-SC 51-24.